There is surely no better way to win the league than with a last gasp winner.
Celtic travelled to Rugby Park Kilmarnock needing 3 points to wrap up the title. An end of season stutter had seen Celtic win only 1 of the previous 4 league matches, losing away to Rangers and Falkirk and only picking up a point at Tannadice.
A 1-0 win at home against Motherwell at the start of April was followed by a Cup Semi Final victory over St Johnstone helping to raise spirits again before heading to Kilmarnock for what everyone hoped would be a title party.
For the first time in almost 3 years John Kennedy started a match for Celtic, which was a welcome sight for fans in the stadium and watching on TV.
After a bright start from Cletic the match slowed down with half chances for both sides. However, midway through the first half a corner from Nakamura was met perfectly by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink as he glanced a header into the net to give Celtic the lead. With no more real goalmouth action in the first half, Celtic were 45 minutes from winning back to back titles.
Early in the second half Kilmarnock drew level, subsequently both sides had chances to take the lead, but the match looked to be heading for a draw and therefore a delay to the title celebrations.
With the match now in injury time Nakamura was bundled off the ball around 25 yards from goal. Expectation grew among the celtic support. The Kilmarnock wall was set, Nakamura looked at his target, stepped up and curled the ball into the bottom corner of net. The delerious Celtic players joined the fans at the front of Chadwick stand to celebrate the wining goal and the winning of our 41st title.
Footage from the TV later showed Gordon Strachan and Tommy Burns bursting from the dug out in sheer joy at the moment the title was seeled.
That split second between anticipation and jubilation for the club staff, players and fans was captured perfectly.
A fabulous player with a special talent, Nakamura had helped deliver the title in the best possible way and he certainly gave our fans an excuse to celebrate another title.
Martin Donaldson
This wonderful goal by Shunsuke Nakamura is the third one featured by Martin so far in this series – That Was The Celtic Goal That Was.
First up was Frank McGarvey’s wonderful header in the 1985 Scottish Cup Final – his last for the club – and you can read that HERE.
Then Martin featured Chris Sutton’s delicious chip against the old Rangers in May 2004 to deliver the Whitewash – the league was already won. Read about that goal HERE.
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